Film-to-stage adaptations Xanadu and Cry-Baby were (deservedly, in my view) ignored altogether. Lincoln Centre Theatre's justly acclaimed revival of South Pacific won seven Tonys, including musical revival and the actor in a musical prize for its Brazilian leading man and Broadway newcomer, Paulo Szot. And Tracy Letts' bruising, three-hour-plus August: Osage County, first seen at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, took five awards, starting with best play and best director.

As Tony revellers prepared to party the night away - and possibly the next day, as well, since most Broadway shows are dark on Monday - one question lingered: what in heaven's name was the night's major British victor, Boeing-Boeing star Mark Rylance, talking about in an acceptance speech for actor in a play that made no mention whatsoever of his fellow actors, Broadway, or even the show itself? Instead, Rylance chose to recite a poem by an obscure Minnesota poet by the name of Lewis Jenkins, which included the following: "If you go into the woods, the back country, someplace past all human habitation, it is a good idea to wear orange and carry a gun, or, depending on the season, carry a fishing pole, or a camera with a big lens," he told the black-tie audience, which is rather different from thanking your loved ones and your agent. Presumably in Rylance's case, those people know who they are.

Here's a further question surrounding the Broadway Boeing-Boeing: why is the New York incarnation a good 20 minutes longer than the recent West End revival, which also starred Rylance? One could debate whether Rylance was brave or foolish not to use his nanosecond of air time on CBS (the Tonys, unlike London's Olivier Awards, are broadcast nationwide) to plug the relevant show. No doubt irritating to his producers was the fact that Boeing-Boeing's additional win for best play revival happened earlier in the evening, during a pre-show portion of the telecast that was only accessible online.

Old-style Broadway brio was evident in the trio of Tony recipients from the superlative revival of the musical, Gypsy, whose star Patti LuPone gleefully refused to be drowned out by the orchestra cued to cut off winners who have spoken for too long. "Shut up, it's been 29 years," said LuPone, who in fact won her first Tony 28 years ago for the Broadway premiere of Evita.

Elsewhere, one has to feel for Tony also-rans Laurence Fishburne, who gives an almost indecently charismatic performance in the one-man play Thurgood, about the African-American supreme court justice Thurgood Marshall, and the entire cast of Passing Strange, most of them Broadway first-timers who may have felt as if they were crashing some sort of private club. The London-spawned revival of Sunday In the Park With George was the night's big loser, having come away empty-handed from nine Tony nominations. The 39 Steps did rather better, nabbing two technical prizes - for sound design and lighting.

Not to worry, the British are sure to be back in abundant contention at the Tonys next year. Those watching the ceremonies on TV were treated to ceaseless adverts for the autumn's big New York opening: none other than the Broadway bow of Billy Elliot - the Musical. Should Elton John start clearing a place on his mantlepiece for yet another Tony now?